Rotary press preprinted web registering device

ABSTRACT

In a web registering device for a rotary press containing data to be printed on one side of a web having preprinted data on its opposite side, the web is entrained around a control roller mounted in the press and connected at one end by gears to a brake. An electrical circuit, including sensing means reading the position of register marks preprinted on the web and coordinated with a circuit completed by a switch closed by a cam, mounted on one end of a press cylinder, controls the position of the preprinted web with respect to the data being printed on its opposite side by operating air valves applying or releasing the brake.

United States Patent Pekrul [54] ROTARY PRESS PREPRINTED WEB REGISTERINGDEVICE [72] Inventor: Roger K. Pekrul, Choctaw, Okla.

[73] Assignee: The Oklahoma Publishing Company,

Oklahoma City, Okla.

22 Filed: Apr-2, 1970 21 Appl.No.: 25,142

2,768,827 10/1956 Noble ..226/28X 5] Mar. 14, 1972 3,101,915 8/1963Aaron ..226/38X 3,510,036 5/1970 Lewis ..226/30X Primary ExaminerRichardA. Schacher Attorney-Robert K. Rhea [57] ABSTRACT In a web registeringdevice for a rotary press containing data to be printed on one side of aweb having preprinted data on its opposite side, the web is entrainedaround a control roller mounted in the press and connected at one end bygears to a brake. An electrical circuit, including sensing means readingthe position of register marks preprinted on the web and coordinatedwith a circuit completed by a switch closed by a cam, mounted on one endof a press cylinder, controls the position of the preprinted web withrespect to the data being printed on its opposite side by operating airvalves applying or releasing the brake.

1 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAR 14 m2 3,648,911

SHEET 2 UP 3 ROGER K. PEKRUL INVENTOR PATENTEDMAR14 I972 SHEET 3 0F 3ROGER K. PEKRUL INVENTOR ROTARY PRESS PREPRINTED WEB REGISTERING DEVICEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention.

The present invention relates to rotary press controls and moreparticularly to the registration of a preprinted web with other databeing printed on its opposite side and with data being printed on otherwebs.

In printing of newspapers on rotary presses, data, such as advertising,is frequently preprinted on one side of a news print web in newspapersheet size and the web is then rewound into a storage or supply rollfrom which the preprinted web is subsequently unwound and delivered athigh speed to one station of a rotary press for printing data on itsopposite side in newspaper sheet size and in registration with thepreprinted web data.

Registration of a preprinted web, with the data to be printed on itsopposite side and with other webs being simultaneously printed in therotary press, is difficult for a number of reasons, one such reasonbeing the distance or pitch between the repetitive printed data on theweb may not be exactly uniform and, therefore, may not match the pitchof the press rollers into which the web is fed. Furthermore, thepreprinted data may not exactly match other data being printed on otherwebs in the rotary press with which the preprinted web is to becollated. In addition to these differences further changes in the pitchor distance between the repetitive printed data on the preprinted webmay occur by reasons of variation in temperature, moisture content ofthe web or by reason of variation of tension applied to the web in itstortuous path around conventional rollers forming a part of the press.

Some of the previous attempts to effect registration of a preprinted webwith respect to data being printed on its opposite side have beenunsuccessful generally because of difficulty experienced in controllingthe speed at which the preprinted web is supplied from the unwindingstorage roll. The occurrence of inaccuracies in the control of the websupply speed permits the tension in the web to be too loose and,therefore, uncontrollable or too tight and thus subject to breakageunder excessive tension.

It has been proposed to compensate for variations in pitch length inpreprinted webs by the application of moisture to the web so that theprinted matter thereon may be brought into register with other matter ordata being printed on the opposite side of the web without subjectingthe web to excessive tension. However, the application of moisture to aweb is objectionable as the result of a slow response or time lagbetween the time of moisture application and the corresponding effective change to achieve registration of the web. Furthermore, it is notpractical in some printing operations to use moisture on the webparticularly when the opposite side thereof is to be printed.

2. Description of the prior art.

This application is an improvement over US. Pat. No. 3,386,637 forRotary Press Web Registering Device. This patent discloses means forvisual registration of the web and manually operated means to effectadjustment of the'web position to correct an out of registrationposition of the web. This application incorporates a sensing means inits electrical circuit for operating a web travel brake in response toan out of registration position by advancing or retarding the rate oftravel of the web with respect to the position of a register markprinted on the web and a function of the press. An automatic webregistering device is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 3,097,844 whichfeatures a photoelectric scanner for detecting register errors whichoperates variable speed transmission controlling the supply roll byadjustably moving a movable rollerto effect differences in pitch ofpreprinted data on a web to be correlated with data on other webs. Thisapplication features a photoelectric scanning device detecting in or outof registration of preprinted data on the web which, through an electriccircuit, operates an air brake mounted on one of the rollers interposedbetween the supply roller and the printing cylinder for releasing theroller or retarding its rotation, in response to whether the web is tobe advanced or retarded to effect an in" register position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This device is used in combination with arotary newspaper printing press having impression rollers or printingcylinders around which the web is entrained from an unwinding storagereel, synchronized with the cylinders, with the web entrained aroundother rollers in a tortuous path and collated with other websterminating in. a cut and fold mechanism. A control roller is interposedin the press in spaced parallel relation between the preprinted supplyroll and printing cylinders. The preprinted web is entrained around thecontrol roller and in the path formed by the other rollers of the press.The control roller is connected'by gears to a water controlled air brakewith the brake released and applied by air under pressure from solenoidoperated air valves. An electrical circuit, including photoelectricscanning means for reading the position of registration marks preprintedon the web, is synchronized with a reference pulse obtained from aswitch mounted on the press and closed by a cam on one printing cylinderfor energizing one of the brake controlling air valves to release orapply the brake. Time delay means, forming a part of the circuit,provides a time lapse between web advance or retard signal correctionsfor eliminating continuous application or release of air to the airbrake. Installation of this invention on an existing rotary newspaperpress requires only the addition of the control roller, the water cooledair brake and its control valves, a cam on one end of one press cylinderand an electrical circuit. The circuit includes photocell scanners and apulse shaping and amplifying circuit for energizing relays and operatingthe control valve solenoids in response to photocell signals.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a means foreffecting accurate longitudinal registration of repetitive preprintedwebs drawn from a supply roll under the influence of an automaticvariable speed drive synchronized with the operation of the remainder ofthe press for collating data on the preprinted web with data to beprinted on its opposite side and with the data printed on other websentrained through the press and simultaneously printed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary diagrammaticview illustrating the path of the preprinted web through a portion of anewspaper rotary printing press;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a fragmentary portion of the preprinted web;

FIG. 3'is a fragmentary perspective view of one unit of a newspaperrotary press having a preprinted web entrained therethrough illustratingthe relative position of a portion of the control means;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the control roller and thewater cooled air brake;

FIG. Sis a top view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a wiring diagram of the electrical power source; and,

FIG. 6A is a wiring diagram forming a continuation of the diagram ofFIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Like characters of referencedesignate like parts in those figures of the drawings in which theyoccur. I

In the drawings:'

The reference numeral 10 indicates, generally, one section or unit of arotary newspaper press having a frame 12 which journals impressioncylinders 14 and 16 and back-up" cylinders l8 and 20. A reel or rolledweb holding means 22, usually positioned in a reel room, not shown,downwardly of the press unit 10, supports the supply roll 24 comprisingthe preprinted web. A single thickness of the web, indicated at 25, fromthe supply roll, is entrained in a tortuous path around conventionalrollers 26, around the backup rollers 18 and 20 and around other rollers28, above the unit 10, terminating with other webs, not shown, fromother similar units of the press, not shown, at a conventional cut andfold apparatus 30. The cylinder 14 has a stereotype plate mountedthereon, not shown, which prints the blank side of the web 25.

A control roller 35 is mounted within the press, above and in spacedparallel relation with respect to the supply roll 24, by bearings 36 andsupports 38 attached to the press reelroom frame, indicated at 40, onlyone end of the roll mounting being shown (FIG. 4). One end of the roller35 is coaxially connected with a spur gear 42 which meshes with acooperating spur gear 44 coaxially connected with a variable speedcontrol means comprising a water cooled tension air brake assembly 45 inturn connected with a cross-brace frame member of the press, indicatedat 46. The water cooled air brake 45 is conventional and is presentlyavailable under the trade name Wichita Water Cooled Brake. The brake 45is provided with a pair of tubes 48 which continuously supply water tothe interior of the brake from a source of supply, not shown. The airbrake is connected with air conducting tubes 49 and 50 from a source ofair under pressure, not shown, which actuates the air brake and controlsthe speed or rotational velocity of the gear 44 in the manner presentlydescribed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the preprinted web 25 has a series of longitudinallyspaced-apart rectangular newspaper page size sections 52 printed thereonbetween its respective side edges leaving a transverse marginal blankarea 54 between successive areas 52 of the web. These transversemarginal areas 54 are provided, adjacent one or both marginal side edgesof the web, with a relatively heavy preprinted register mark 56 for thepurposes presently apparent.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 3, register mark position sensingmeans, including a scanning head 58, is mounted on the press unit frame12 by a suitable bracket means 60 so that the scanning head overlies onemarginal edge portion of the web 25. The scanning head contains threephotocell lamps providing illumination for three photocells arranged inclose spaced relation parallel with the direction of web travel ashereinafter described more fully.

A cam 62 is coaxially adjustably mounted by screws 64 on one end ofashaft 66 coaxially connected with the cylinder 20 and projectingoutwardly of the frame 12. The cam 62 is provided, on its periphery,with a detent 68 (FIG. 1) for closing a microswitch MS mounted on theframe 12 for the reasons presently explained.

CIRCUIT POWER SUPPLY The primary winding of a conventional transformerTRl is connected with a source of electrical energy AC through anoff-on" control switch S1. The secondary side of the transformer TRl iscenter tapped with taps for volts and 6 volts. The high voltage portionof the secondary winding is connected with the plates of a rectifier D1.The 5 volt secondary tap wires are connected to the filaments of therectifier D1. A full wave is obtained from the cathode of the rectifierD1 which is filtered and smoothed by two high value resistors R1 and R2,connected in series by a wire 72, with two capacitors C1 and C2connecting the wire 72 to ground. This provides a high voltage source B+with the voltage being regulated by two regulating tubes D2 connected inseries to the wire 72 and to ground. Two wires F, connected with the 6volt secondary tap wires 70 and 71, are connected with the respectivefilaments F of other tubes to be hereinafter described.

The wire 70 is connected by a wire 74 to three photocell lamps L1, L2and L3 mounted and connected in series in the scanning head 58 through aresistor R3 and to the wire 71 by the wiper of a potentiometer P1 foradjusting the brightness of the lamps L1, L2 and L3 for the purposespresently apparent.

The wire 71 of the 6 volt secondary tap is connected to ground and theother wire 70 forms an added circuit to provide a 6 v. bias voltage byinterposing a diode D3 and resistor R4 in series in this wire. Acapacitor C3 is connected across the wires and 71 between the diode D3and resistor R4 to filter the -6 v. voltage. Power for the circuit ofFIG. 6A is supplied by the power circuit of FIG. 6.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF CIRCUIT All components are shown in deenergizedposition. The circuit of FIG. 6A includes three photocells orphotodiodes PC 1, PC2 and PC3 mounted in close spaced relation in thescanning head 58 and in longitudinal alignment with the path of travelof the register marks 56. Photodiode pulses are respectively amplifiedby variable gain amplifiers consisting of three dual triode tubes T1, T2and T3 and then passed to a pulse shaper and further amplified with dualtriode tubes T4, T5 and T6. After shaping to a square wave the pulse issent to coincidence detectors comprising two dual triode tubes T7 and T8enclosed by shield lines 75. The coincidence detector tubes T7 and T8require that two pulses enter the respective tube section at the exacttime to create a coincidence for transferring the pulses to othercomponents. The other pulse is generated by the microswitch MS beingclosed by the rotating press cylinder 20. When the microswitch MScloses, its pulse is amplified and shaped by a dual triode tube T9 whichtransmits the amplified pulse to the coincidence detector tubes T7 andT8. Thus, three pulses are generated in sequence by one of the registermarks 56 passing through the scanning path of the photocells PCl, PC2and PC3 so that these three pulses are amplified and transmitted to thecoincidence detector tubes T7 and T8. When a coincidence of two pulsesis detected by one section of either of these detector tubes as a resultof a pulse from the press microswitch MS, this detector section willconduct, transmitting a correction pulse for longitudinal displacementof the web 25. The correction pulse outputs of the detector tubes T7 andT8 are connected respectively to three gas-filled tetrode tubes T10, T11and T12 which respectively indicate either up, home" or down"corrections of the web 25. These three tetrode tubes respectivelyenergize normally open relays X, Y and Z, connected with air valvescontrolling an air supply to the air brake 45 through a time delay meansincluding a single tube T13 enclosed by the shield lines 76.

PULSE SHAPING Since the dual triode tubes Tl through T6 are connected bypairs to the respective photodiodes, only the circuit connecting thetubes T1 and T4 with the photodiode PCl will be described in detail inthe interest of brevity.

As stated hereinabove, the 6 volt wires F are connected to the filamentsF of all the tubes Tl through T13. The 6 v. of the power supply isconnected in series to the photodiodes PCl, PC2 and PC3. When thephotodiode PCl is activated by the passage of a register mark 56, apulse is generated so that a 6 v. current flows through the photodiodePCl to ground over the wire 78 and through a resistor R5. The wire 78 isconnected with a capacitor C4. The other side of the capacitor C4 isconnected to the grid of the first amplification stage of the tube T1.The cathode of the first stage of tube T1 is connected to ground. Thisfirst amplification stage is self-biased to cut off to ground through aresistor R6. The plate of this stage of the tube T1 is connected to thepower voltage source B+ through a plate resistor R7. Passage of aregister mark 56 across the scanning path of the photodiode PCldecreases the illumination to this photodiode thus generating a positivegoing pulse from the capacitor C4 causing the first stage of the tube T1to conduct. Therefore, a negative going pulse is generated at the firststage plate of tube TI. This plate is connected to the grid of thesecond amplification stage of the tube Tl through a capacitor C5 and oneend of the coil of a potentiometer P2. The other end of the coil ofpotentiometer P2 is connected to ground. The cathode of the second stageof tube T1 is connected to ground through a resistor R9. The secondamplification stage of tube T1 is normally conducting by the wiper ofthe potentiometer P2 connected to the grid. When the negative pulse isimpressed on the capacitor C5, the tube T1 will cut off generating apositive going pulse at the plate of the second stage of this tube bythis plate being similarly connected to the voltage source B+ through aresistor R8.

The purpose of the variable gain potentiometer P2 is to amplify onlydesired pulses and not pulses which may be generated by press vibration,flopping of the web, paper density or other causes. When the desiredpulse is amplified at the second stage of the tube T1, it is passed tothe first stage grid of the tube T4 by a wire 80 with a capacitor C6interposed in this wire. The tube T4 is a monostable vibrator used as awave shaper and trigger pulse commonly referred to as a single one-shottube. The first grid of the tube T4 is connected to the power source B+through a resistor R10 causing this side of the tube T4 to conduct. Theother grid of this tube T4 is cut off with a self-biased resistor R11connecting the grid to ground. The plate of the first stage of this tubeis connected to the power source B+ through a resistor R12. Both stagecathodes of this tube are connected to ground through a common resistorR13 which allows only one side of this tube to conduct at a time. Thewire 80 is also connected to ground through a capacitor C7. Thus, whenthe positive pulse from the last amplification stage of the tube T1 isimpressed on the capacitor C6 a pulse is generated over the wire 80 tothe first stage grid of the one-shot" tube T4 with the pulse beingshaped by the capacitor C7. The negative trailing edge of this pulsecauses the first stage of the one-shot tube T4 to cut off generating apositive pulse at the plate of its first stage. This plate is connectedto the grid of the second stage of this tube by a capacitor C8. Thispositive going pulse causes the second stage of the tube T4 to conductfor the length of time required for the discharge of the capacitor C8 toground through the resistor R11 generating a one-shot" effect and a highvalue trigger pulse. A negative pulse is generated at the plate of thesecond stage one-shot (tube T4) by a resistor R14 connecting this plateto the power source B+. An indicator lamp L4 is connected in parallelwith the resistor R14 for visual indication of the one-shot" operationof the tube T4.

The output from the plate of the second amplification stage of the tubesT4 and T5 are connected to the cathodes of the tube T7 by wires 82 and84 while the output of the tube T6 is connected to one cathode of thetube T8 by a wire 86, the other cathode of the tube T8 being connectedto ground by a resistor R15.

REFERENCE PULSE As disclosed hereinabove, the microswitch MS, mounted onthe press frame 12 adjacent one end of the cylinder 20, is closed by thedetent 68 on the cam 74 during each revolution of the cylinder. Onecontact of the switch MS is connected to the current source B+ through aresistor R16. The other contact of the switch MS is connected to groundthrough a resistor R17. One lead of a capacitor C9 is connected betweenthe switch MS and the resistor R17. The other lead of the capacitor C9is connected by a wire 88 to the grid of one stage of the tube T9. Thewire 88 is connected to ground through a resistor R18. The dual triodetube T9 is variable width trigger" tube having a common cathodeconnected to ground through a resistor R19 assuring that only one stageof the tube T9 can conduct at a given time. The plates of the tube T9are connected to the current source B+ through resistors R20 and R21,respectively. When the microswitch MS is closed by the cylinder tocharge the adjacent side of the capacitor C9, a positive pulse isapplied to the grid of the first stage of the tube T9 causing it toconduct and generating a negative pulse at the plate of the first stagewhich is transmitted to the grid of the second stage of this tube by awire 90 having a capacitor C10 interposed therein. This pulse willinterrupt conduction of the second stage of this tube by a potentiometerP3 having one end of its coil connected to the wire 90 through aresistor R22 and its wiper connected with the current source B+. Thepurpose of the potentiometer P3 being to vary the pulse width obtainedat the plate of the second stage of the tube T9 so that regardless ofthe angular rate of rotation of the cylinder 20 a pulse of the samewidth is generated at the plate of the second stage of the tube T9 eachtime the microswitch MS is closed. The pulse from the plate of thesecond stage of the tube T9 is connected by a wire 91 to the four gridsof the tubes T7 and T8 through a capacitor C11. The right-hand grid, asviewed in FIG. 6A, of the tube T8 is used only for visual indication ofthe reference pulse which is obtained by a wire 92 connecting the wire91 to the grid through a resistor R23 with the grid biased to cut off byconnection with the 6 v. source through a resistor R24. The plate ofthis section of the tube T8 is connected with a lamp L5 in turnconnected with the power source B+. A resistor R25 is connected inparallel with the lamp L5, thus, when a positive pulse is received fromthe trigger tube T9, the filament of the lamp L5 will be excitedvisually indicating the presence of the pulse. This pulse from the tubeT9 is, therefore, simultaneously applied to the grids of the three othersections of the tubes T7 and T8 which would normally cause these tubesections to conduct, however, as stated hereinabove, the cathodes ofthese three tube sections are connected, respectively, with the platesof the final amplification stages of the one-shot" tubes T4, T5 and T6by the wires 82, 84 and 86. The plates of the tube T7 are respectivelyconnected to the primary side of a pair of transformers TR2 and TR3 and,in turn to the current source B+ through resistors R26 and R27,respectively. Similarly, the plate of the left hand section, as viewedin FIG. 6A, of the tube T8 is con nected to a transformer TR4 and, inturn to the current source B+ through a resistor R28. The photodiodeamplification function is now complete.

When the photodiodes PC1, PC2 and PC3 shut off, as a result of decreaseof light intensity caused by the passage of the register mark 56 on thenewspaper web 25, a negative value pulse is generated at the last stageof the one shot tubes T4, T5 and T6, respectively. This pulse istransferred, by the wires 82, 84 and 86, to the cathodes of the threetube sections of the tubes T7 and T8, as disclosed hereinabove. Thesethree sections of these two tubes T7 and T8 are called and" gates. Inorder for an and gate to conduct a positive pulse must be applied to thegrid simultaneously with a negative pulse applied to the cathode. Whenthis condition is achieved, this tube section or and gate will conduct.

Stated briefly, a pulse from a photodiode and a pulse from themicroswitch must coincide at one of the "and" gates to produce an outputpulse. Since three photodiode circuits are used, the passage of theregister mark 56 may generate three different output pulses from the andgates which reveals the relationship of the web register mark withrespect to the desired position when passing the press cylinder 20.These three pulses may now be referred to as up" corrections for thephotodiode PCl; normal or home position" for the photodiode PC2; anddown corrections for the photodiode PC3.

RELAYS The circuits connecting the three gas-filled tetrode tubes T10,T11 and T12 to their respective relays X, Y and Z are identical and onlythe circuit connecting the tube T10 to the relay X will be described indetail in the interest of brevity. The control grid of the tube T10 isconnected to the 6 v. source through a resistor R29. The cathode isconnected to ground and to the other grid. The plate of the tube T10 isconnected to one terminal of the coil of the relay X. The plateconnected terminal of the relay X is connected with the plate connectedterminal of the other two relays Y and Z through capacitors C12 and C13.The purpose of these two capacitors C12 and C13 is to extinguish anytube conduction when a different tube must conduct to obtain a desiredcorrection. The other terminal of the relay X is connected with thecurrent nun-m source B-lthrough a suitable resistor R30. An indicatorlamp L6 is connected in parallel with the terminals of the relay X toprovide visual indication of a correction pulse. One terminal of thesecondary winding of each of the transformers TR2, TR3 and TR4 isconnected to ground and the other terminal of each of these secondarywindings is connected, respectively, by wires 98, 100 and 102 to thecontrol grid of the tubes T10, T1 1 and T12, respectively, through threecapacitors C15, C16 and C17, respectively, so that an output pulse fromone of the plates of the trigger tubes T7 and T8 is applied to therespective capacitor C15, C16 or C17 which in turn energizes therespective tube T10, T11 or T12 and its respective relay X, Y or 2.Thus, these three relays may be labeled up" correction for relay X; homeor normal for relay Y; and, down correction for relay Z. The plateconnected terminal of the relay Y is also connected to a normally openpush button switch 83 through a capacitor C14 with the other terminal ofthe switch S3 connected to ground to manually extinguish an undesiredcorrection pulse.

AIR BRAKE CONTROL VALVES A conventional solenoid operated air valve V2is interposed in the air lines 49 and 50 supplying air pressure to theair brake 45. A source of electrical energy AC is connected to thesolenoid of the valve V2 through an off-on" manual control switch 35. Anup" register mark correction air valve V1 is connected with the airrelease line 49. Similarly, a third air valve V3, connected with thesource of air under pressure, not shown, is connected with the airpressure line 50. Thus, the three air valves V1, V2 and V3,respectively, assist in the function of register mark correction as upcorrection, normal or home" and down correction.

One terminal of the relay X is connected with one terminal of thesolenoid of the valve V1. Similarly the relay Z has one terminalconnected with one terminal of the valve V3. The other terminal of thesolenoids of these two valves V1 and V3 are connected in parallel to onewire 94 of a current source AC. The other wire 96 of this current sourceconnects the armatures of the relays X and Z in parallel through aseries connected normally closed off-on" switch S6 and the armature ofanormally open time delay relay W.

For the solenoid of either of the air valves V1 or V3 to be energizedthe time delay relay W must close its armature in the manner presentlyexplained.

TIME DELAY The time delay relay circuit comprises a source of electricalenergy AC having one wire 104 connected to the cathode of the singletube T13. The other AC source wire 106 is connected to one terminal of aresistor R31 with the other end of this resistor connected by a wire 108to the armature of the relay Y. The armature contact of the relay Y isconnected by a wire 110 to the control grid of the tube T13 through adiode D4. One end of the coil ofa potentiometer P4 and its wiper isconnected in parallel across the diode D4 to the wire 110. A capacitorC18 also connects the terminal end of the wiper to the wire 104. Theplate of the tube R13 is connected to one terminal of the coil of therelay W and the plate is also connected to the center grid of the tubeT13. The other terminal of the relay W coil is connected to the sourcewire 106 by a wire 112. A capacitor C19 is connected to the wire 112 andplate circuit of the tube T13 in parallel with the coil of the relay W.The wiper arm setting of the potentiometer P4 forms the adjustment orthe desired time delay required before the relay W is energized to closeits armature when the normal" relay Y is deenergized. Stated anotherway, when the register mark 56 is in its desired normal or home"position coinciding signals from the middle photodiode PC2 andmicroswitch MS maintain the relay Y energized and its armature closedthus applying negative current to the grid of the time delay tube T13.This negative energy prevents conduction of the tube T13 therefore therelay W remains deenergized. When the web 25 is out of register, ineither direction, its register mark 56 and the microswitch MS generate acoincidence signal requiring an up" or down" correction, as explainedhereinabove, thus energizing and closing the relay X or the relay Z asthe case may be. Thus the relay Y is deenergized and its armature movesto open" position. When the normal" relay Y deenergizes the contacts inthe grid of the time delay tube T13 open permitting the capacitor C18 todischarge the negative voltage applied to the grid by the diode D4through the potentiometer P4. Discharging this negative voltage permitsthe tube T13 to conduct thus energizing the relay W in its platecircuit. When the armature of the relay W is closed, current is appliedto the solenoid of the air valve Vl or V3 in response to the pulsereceived by the tube T10 or T12, respectively.

The air valve V2 normally maintains the required air pressure on the airbrake 45. Whenever the register mark 56 is out of register in a retardedor lagging position requiring an up" correction the current applied tothe solenoid of the valve V1 shifts this valve to open position torelease or further open the air brake exhaust line 49 so that thecontrol roller 35 rotates more freely to permit advancement of the web25. Conversely, if the position of the register mark 56 is out ofregister in a forward direction and the web needs retarding or a down"correction, a pulse or correction signal, energizing the solenoid of thevalve V3, applies additional air pressure to the air brake supply line50 to further apply the brake and retard the rate of travel of the web25. These up and down corrections of the position of the web 25 areminimized and eliminated when the register mark is within predeterminedtolerances by the time delay means controlling the relay W.

By way of example but not limitation, the following types and values ofthe components provides a satisfactorily operating circuit.

Component and reference Diode D1 5Y3 Rectifier Diode D2 082 regulatorDiode D3 Diode No. [N646 Diode D4 Diode Nor SDSOO Photodiode PCl, PCZ,and PC3 Tube T1. T2, T3, T7, and T8 Tube T4, T5, and T6 Tube T9 TubeT10, T11, and T12 Photodiode No. H38 No. 12AX7 No. 12AU7 Dual Diode No.6.16 Tetrodes No. 2D21 or No. 5727 Tube T13 Single No. 6AQ5 Resistor R1and R2 500 ohms Resistor R3 3 ohms Resistor R4 47 ohms Resistor R5 andR10 2.2 megohms Resistor R6 240K ohms Resistor R7 510K ohms Resistor R8and R22 K ohms Resistor R9 2.2K ohms Resistor Rll 220K ohms Resistor R1210K ohms Resistor R13 2.7K ohms Resistor R14 27K ohms Resistor R15 8.2Kohms Resistor R16 18K ohms Resistor R17 and R18 330 K ohms Resistor R19,R20, and R21 471( ohms Resistor R23, R24, and R29 1 megohms Resistor R25470K ohms Resistor R26, R27, and R28 4.7 K ohm Resistor R30 38K ohmCapacitor Cl and C2 40 mi. Capacitor C3 50 ml. Capacitor C4, C8, C15,C16, and C17 0.01 mf. Capacitor C5 0.02 mt. Capacitor C6 and C9 0.047mf. Capacitor C7 0.002 ml. Capacitor C10 0.0047 ml.CapacitorCl1,Cl2.C13, and C14 0.15 mi. Capacitor C18 16 ml. CapacitorC19 2 m1. Potentiomeler P1 500 ohms Potentiometer P2 1 megohmsPotentiometer P3 500K ohms Potentiometer P4 IOOK ohms Relays W. X. Y,and 2 K ohms Valves V1, V2, and V3 4-way Z-position Obviously theinvention is susceptible to changes or alterations without defeating itspracticability, therefore, I do not wish to be confined to the preferredembodiment shown in the drawings and described herein.

Iclaim:

1. In a rotary press having guiding means including spacedapart rollersdefining a path of movement for a continuous web from an unwindingsupply roll thereof, said web having register marks preprinted thereonat spaced intervals on at least one marginal side edge, the improvementcomprising:

a variable speed roller transversely journaled by said press in saidpath of movement and contacting said continuous web for longitudinallyadjusting its position during movement along said path, said rollerhaving a coaxially connected spur gear at one end;

a fluid pressure operated brake mounted on said press and having a spurgear in mesh with the spur gear on said roller;

a plurality of tubing and solenoid valve means connecting said brakewith a source of fluid under pressure, one said valve means beingcapable of releasing said brake and another of said valve means beingcapable of applying said brake;

detecting means including a primary circuit generating primary signalsin response to the passage of said register marks through apredetermined point in said path corresponding to a correct registrationposition of said web with respect to said press function,

said primary electrical circuit including first and second normally openrelays connected, respectively, with and controlling said brake releaseand said brake applying solenoid valves,

a third normally closed relay,

a time delay circuit connected with said third relay,

a plurality of photocell means including first, second and third voltagegenerating photodiodes disposed in said path and corresponding,respectively, to an advanced, in register and retarded position of saidregister marks with respect to said predetermined point,

a like plurality of voltage amplifying means connecting each saidphotodiode with a respective one of said relays,

a like plurality of and gates interposed between and connected with arespective one of said amplifying means and said relays, and

a cam connected with and driven by said press,

a normally open switch mounted on said press adjacent and closed by saidcam during each performance of said press function; and,

a secondary electrical circuit connecting said normally open switch witheach said and gate for energizing a respective one of said relays inresponse to a coincidence between a voltage generated by a closing ofsaid normally open switch and a voltage generated by one of saidphotodiodes.

1. In a rotary press having guiding means including spaced-apart rollersdefining a path of movement for a continuous web from an unwindingsupply roll thereof, said web having register marks preprinted thereonat spaced intervals on at least one marginal side edge, the improvementcomprising: a variable speed roller transversely journalled by saidpress in said path of movement and contacting said continuous web forlongitudinally adjusting its position during movement along said path,said roller having a coaxially conneCted spur gear at one end; a fluidpressure operated brake mounted on said press and having a spur gear inmesh with the spur gear on said roller; a plurality of tubing andsolenoid valve means connecting said brake with a source of fluid underpressure, one said valve means being capable of releasing said brake andanother of said valve means being capable of applying said brake;detecting means including a primary circuit generating primary signalsin response to the passage of said register marks through apredetermined point in said path corresponding to a correct registrationposition of said web with respect to said press function, said primaryelectrical circuit including first and second normally open relaysconnected, respectively, with and controlling said brake release andsaid brake applying solenoid valves, a third normally closed relay, atime delay circuit connected with said third relay, a plurality ofphotocell means including first, second and third voltage generatingphotodiodes disposed in said path and corresponding, respectively, to anadvanced, in register and retarded position of said register marks withrespect to said predetermined point, a like plurality of voltageamplifying means connecting each said photodiode with a respective oneof said relays, a like plurality of ''''and'''' gates interposed betweenand connected with a respective one of said amplifying means and saidrelays, and a cam connected with and driven by said press, a normallyopen switch mounted on said press adjacent and closed by said cam duringeach performance of said press function; and, a secondary electricalcircuit connecting said normally open switch with each said ''''and''''gate for energizing a respective one of said relays in response to acoincidence between a voltage generated by a closing of said normallyopen switch and a voltage generated by one of said photodiodes.